Much like the Apple stock prices, the company has had a year of ups and downs. While Apple has made great strides in the creation of the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini, the spotlight shines on every stumble the company makes.

Apple’s Biggest Blunders

Now, it should be stated that a ground breaking company such as Apple that has introduced the world to so many devices we now wonder how we ever lived without, is allowed the occasional hurdle. The bottom line is that much of the criticism stems out of comparison to previous models and short of any unexpected accidents that may result in a device requiring professional repair, they are all quality products. That being said, here are some of the issues.

The Lost Maps of Apple

The disaster of Apple’s Maps app caused something that is rare from the company, a public apology by Tim Crook, CEO. Not only was this app bad, it was godawful, what with it giving users the wrong directions and the lack of public transportation information. Things just got worse when late night talk show hosts began to make the app the butt of their jokes.

This app is the biggest blunder for Apple this year for many reasons. Arguably the most vital app on iPhone as well as other devices, it is imperative that the app is right. Because Apple decided to make Google Maps unavailable it its app store, the company looks petty.

Apple has always been concerned about holding the experience of the user above all else. However, because Steve Jobs passed away a year before Maps came onto the scene does not fare well for those people who are newly in charge of the company.

The Not So New, New iPad

In the past, two things always held true with a new version of iPad: the marketing team at Apple built hype before the release date, and the product lived up to the hype.

With the creation of the original iPad came the creations of the touch-tablet. The second- generation brought forth a lighter and faster version. The third-generation improved on the graphics.

However, the marketing team dropped the ball with the announcement of the fourth-generation when it was introduced at the time the iPad Mini was being announced.

With the fourth-generation comes very little newness. While Apple touts that this iPad has retina display, the third-generation iPad was actually the first to have this feature. The only things new about this particular iPad is that it contains a faster chip and a Lightning connector.

Using your iPhone 5 can be a time saver for work, communication, and leisure. But are you getting the most out of it? Does your iPhone stall, run out of battery too often, or other hassles that you wish you could fix? Do you have a sneaking suspicion that you’re not using Here are some helpful tips from us at ifixyouri.com to make sure you’re using your iPhone 5 to its greatest potential.

Manage Battery Life of iPhone 5

According to Apple, the iPhone 5 offers up to 8 hours of talk time on 3G, up to 8 hours of internet use on 3G, up to 8 hours on LTE and up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi, up to 10 hours of video playback, up to 40 hours of audio playback and to 225 hours of standby time.

If you’re not getting anywhere close to that, here are some ways to increase your battery life.

Set your Auto-Lock interval so that the iPhone 5 will turn off after a period of inactivity of your choosing. To set the auto-lock interval, launch: Settings app, tap on General and then Auto-Lock and set the auto-lock interval to either 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 minutes.

Using Wi-Fi drains iPhone’s battery, but did you know that one of the most work-intensive processes that iPhone’s Wi-Fi chip has to do is the ‘Search for available network’ function? To disable this feature, launch the Settings app, tap on Wi-Fi, and press on the On/Off toggle for Ask to Join Networks to disable it.

Lower the default screen brightness to save energy. Launch the Settings app, scroll down and tap on Brightness & Wallpaper and set Auto-Brightness to On. Note: Apple enables it by default.

Turn off LTE if it is not available in your area – Start by going to settings, next head to general, and finally tap cellular. The second option is a toggle for “Enable LTE.” When you need to save some battery and can spare internet speed, switch this option off.

Turn off Location services for the following System System services: Diagnostics & Usage, Setting Time Zone, Location Based iAds (Settings -> Privacy -> Location Services -> System Services).

Heat can degrade performance of your iPhone’s battery. So it is important to keep the iPhone out of the sun or a hot car (including the glove box).

If you’re on the plane or in an area where there is no cellular coverage then use Airplane mode to increase battery life (Settings > Airplane Mode).

Lock your iPhone 5’s screen orientation

This can be useful if you prefer to view your screen in either portrait (standard) or landscape (sideways). To lock your screen orientation, double tap the home button and swipe to the right. A gray circle opposite the rewind button will appear. Tap it once and a lock will come on the screen. Now when you turn your phone sideways the orientation will stay put.

Automatically download new apps directly on your iPhone 5

You can set your various Apple devices so that music and apps automatically download on all of the different devices.

Go to settings and navigate to the middle of the page. After that select the “Store” option.

Once inside under “Automatic Downloads” switch on the options for Music, Apps, or both.

Mail Tips

While in Apple’s Mail app you can just pull down from the top to check for new messages.

Return to Draft

If you want to get back to a draft quickly, touch and hold the Compose button to switch to your last saved draft.

Miscellaneous Cool Tricks

If you want to keep a PDF you’ve been reading on Safari or from an email and save it onto your iPhone, simply touch and hold the PDF icon or link, then select “Open in iBooks.”

Speed up your phone by selecting what Spotlight indexes.

Instead of letting Spotlight index everything on your phone, have it only search necessary items by starting at Settings, then select General, and finally choose Spotlight search.

View websites in full screen

While browsing a web site in Safari, turn your iPhone tolandscape and tap the full-screen icon (arrows coming together in the bottom right) and you can view a website without distraction.

Take a screenshot of your screen

Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button, then press the Home button. Your screen flashes and the picture appears in your Camera Roll.

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Try some of these tricks to get the most out of your iPhone 5. Happy exploring!

Modern phones are harder to operate than ancient phones. As a result, a large number of people (especially senior members of our society) usually have a hard time trying to use their iPhone more effectively. Listed below are tips on how to use your iPhone more effectively.

Tips on How to use Your iPhone More Effectively

Once you’ve bought an iPhone, you will want to learn how to use all the cool features and amenities that come with this device.

Set up the iPhone Properly

Setting the iPhone up properly is a must. After you’ve bought an iPhone, you will need to install iTunes on your desktop computer and/or laptop and create a personal iTunes account. It is also a very good idea to sync your new iPhone to your email account. This will enable you to not just send and receive messages but also manage your calendar and add or delete contacts from the iPhone. Popular email accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo and MSN are all compatible with iPhones.

Web Browsing

Most people who buy an iPhone use it to browse the web. For this reason, it is very important to choose a compatible web browser and install it properly. All iPhone models come with Safari, a free built in web browser, but some people prefer to use other browsers.

Music

Learning how to manage various music options is also very important. A beginner will want to learn how to get songs from CD onto his or her iPhone, make playlists and use the iPhone with an FM car transmitter.

Choosing the Right Apps

Choosing the right apps will significantly increase your iPhone’s effectiveness. The idea is not to choose a large number of apps but to simply pick the ones that you need and are likely to use. There are many great apps to choose from, ranging from gaming apps to cooking apps.

Jailbreaking

Jailbreaking an iPhone is no easy task, although there are some programs that make this job a lot simpler than it would be otherwise. Jailbreaking an iPhone enables a person to get apps that are not available from Apple’s App store. It is completely legal to jailbreak your iPhone but Apple will not help you resolve any problems that may arise as a result of your actions.

The first impressions of the HTC Droid DNA are actually very promising. The look of the screen alone can already be classified excellent. However, how does this phone fare from the other smartphones?

We compared the HTC Droid DNA with some of the current heavyweights of the smartphone industry.

HTC Droid DNA vs. the Competition

The first thing to compare with rival smartphones is the screen brightness. The HTC Droid DNA was placed beside four other phones including the iPhone, the Nexus 4, the HTC One X and the Galaxy S III. The results revealed that the iPhone produces the brightest screen among all the smartphones followed closely by the One X. Although the performance of the HTC Droid DNA is quite disappointing, the brightness is still enough to make the screen visible in daylight.

Color Quality and Screen Testing

When it comes to color, the Super LCD 2 of the One X still remains on top along with the iPhone 5. Although the Super LCD 3 of the Droid DNA produces a rather blue hue, it is still a lot better compared to the greenish shade of the Nexus 4. Aside from the pixel density, the Droid DNA provides clear images for users to appreciate, especially in a macro shot.

However, in summary, the Super LCD 3 of the Droid DNA is still inferior to the Super LCD 2 of the HTC One X. Although the former has a slight edge when it comes to the sharpness of the display, this still cannot make up to its poor color calibration and darker screen.

Ranking Smartphones

Although the HTC Droid DNA does not generally have a bad screen, it is still a step backwards compared to the other phones. Here is the ranking of the smartphones according to their display:

HTC One X

Apple iPhone 5

HTC Droid DNA

Google Nexus 4

Samsung Galaxy S III

Note: Although all the aforementioned smartphones have their clear strengths and weaknesses, all are prone to unforeseen accidents such as water damage, cracked screens etc. If your smartphone is in need of repair, the experts at iFixYouri can certainly help.

Honorable Mentions

Aside from these five, there are two other smartphones that remain to be tested. These are the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Samsung Galaxy Note II. When it comes to brightness and color, the Lumia is classified as excellent. However, it is still a step behind the Droid DNA in terms of the resolution. The Lumia 920 is a lot sharper because of the thicker typeface; however, the size of the pixels is actually comparable. As for the Galaxy Note II, it is, as of the moment, at the bottom of the ranking.

It’s hard to say what tops the list of the coolest features on the Verizon iPhone 5. The fact that it’s the most advanced phone on the market and can be fixed in a timely fashion, or maybe the fact that it’s designed to last, and not break in the first place.

Verizon iPhone 5 Unique Features

4-Inch Retina Display

Fastest Wireless

A6 Chip

8MP iSight Camera

iOS 6

Thinnest, Smallest Design Yet

Verizon iPhone 5 Retina Display

So you’re curious about the 4-Inch Retina Display. Think about it this way: the human eye can process a limited amount of visual data, and the iPhone’s screen has more visual than the eye can see. For decades, technology designers have been producing screens (televisions, computer monitors and cell phones) under the assumption that adding color beyond the human’s perception capability was time wasted. The Retina Display showed the world that this was a wrongly applied understanding.

The human eye can only see a certain amount of color and richness in an image, but the eye has several advantages over a still screen. When the eye shifts focus, it creates rapid 3D sensations, filling in and drawing color based on lighting and movement. Viewed in movement, a screen that lacks rich color saturation becomes duller. Moreover, the brain is responsible for interpreting the images eyes see. The less detail presented to the brain, the more work the brain does to fill in an image.

The Retina Display has packed more pixels into its viewing area than the eye can detect, and the result is a uniform, nearly three-dimensional four-inch screen. Maybe your eye can’t see more than a certain number of pixels per centimeter, but when you look at the Retina Display, you won’t be able to deny its clearer image compared to other cell phones.

Other Features

You won’t be surprised by Verizon’s incredibly fast wireless. They’ve built the best network in the industry, which means that no matter where you go, you’ll have endless streaming possibilities and great use, and not only that, but you won’t have to worry about your battery dying when you’re out and about.

Battery Life

The A6 Chip has the best power efficiency on the market, delivering as much as two times the CPU performance while conserving more battery life than any other phone.

The 8MP iSight camera is so good, many people stop carrying a digital camera, and take shots exclusively with their iPhone. It’s true. You get all of this with iOS 6, the best operating system on the market, in the smallest, thinnest design by Apple to date.

Heed this warning: the design means the device is delicate. If you accidentally damage your Verizon iPhone 5, there is hope: iFixYouri specializes in iPhone 5 repair. Fixing your phone is as simple as sending it to the experienced technicians, who will send it back, good as new.

One of the best features of the iPhone 5 is its Wi-Fi. However, some users have argued that the Wi-Fi is awful. For instance, one complaint is that the Wi-Fi doesn’t maintain a signal for long enough. To address this issue, here is a short guide on how to solve the iPhone 5 Wi-Fi problem.

The Wi-Fi capabilities of the iPhone 5 are very different compared to the Wi-Fi capabilities of the iPhone 4S. The latter is able to get a full Wi-Fi bar signal without difficulty, while the former is already having problems in maintaining even a single bar for a few seconds. This is one of the most common problems presented in the Apple forums. Nevertheless, users find it effective in switching their router from WPA2 to WEP.

WPA Vs. WEP

The WPA and WPA2 are considered as advanced encryption technologies compared to the WEP. However, they experience more problems in syncing with networks produced by older devices. If the phone experiences Wi-Fi problems, this will automatically switch back to WEP. This is where the iPhone 5 is experiencing the problem. Apple designed the new iPhone with WPA since it is more secured compared to the WEP. Nevertheless, people can use the latter temporarily until Apple finds a way to solve the problem. For the meantime, people will have to compromise their phone’s security in order to enjoy staying connected with the Internet.

Switching Routers

Switching the router of the phone is actually very simple. All you need to do is to access the Router gateway, which can be seen through Google. For example, Western Digital routers are accessed by simply encoding the term “wp router” into the URL Bar. On the other hand, most of the Linksys routers are 192.168.1.1.

The Final Step

Once done, you can now go to the Wireless and Security options to select the WEP encryption instead of the WPA. You will then be required to enter your password for you to finish your router switch. Hopefully, all of your router issues will be solved immediately. This is one of the things that can be done to fix the iPhone 5 Wi-Fi problem.

If Wi-Fi problems are the least of your worries and you have experienced more significant issues such as water damage, a cracked screen or other instances that may require iPhone5 repair, you should consider going to a professional. iFixYouri is an expert in all smartphone, laptop, tablet and desktop repairs.

Reports of minor cosmetic damage on some shipped iPhone 5 models were acknowledged by Apple. When the iPhone 5 was released, the company received several complaints about scratches and dents alongside the edges right out of the box.

Phil Schiller, the senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at Apple Inc., responded to a customer’s email who had complained that he received his black and slate iPhone 5 with some scratches, scuffs and marks throughout the band around the device. The customer further sought clarification from Phil Schiller whether Apple had plans to resolve these issues with the smartphone.

Schiller answered that it is common with any aluminum product to chip or scratch with usage, exposing its natural silver color. Still, when a new product is shipped, those natural scratches should usually only appear after the user handles it.

“Scuffgate” Coined to Describe Common iPhone 5 Issue

The majority of the iPhone 5 damage issues were observed with the black version, whereas the white and silver model received no such reports. It is believed that one reason behind the problem could be the popularity of the black version of the device.

Advantages of the iPhone 5

The new smartphone comes with slimmer design at 7.6 mm thick and a taller 4-inch display. It also comes with a two-tone design along with a metal backing. It is made from aluminum and glass, and is believed to be 20 percent lighter compared to the Iphone 4S. The design choices have created a more sleek phone, but one that is apparently more prone to physical damage.

iPhone 5 Damage Repair – Seek Professional Help

There are a variety of issues that an iPhone 5 can suffer from, but fortunately repairs can help save the device from a landfill. If your iPhone 5 has experienced any damage, don’t panic: iFixYouri specializes in iPhone 5 repair.

The process of choosing a new high-end smartphone to buy may seem exciting at first, but things can get confusing once you start focusing on the technical aspects of the product. Two important features for many smartphone users is the ability to take good photos and videos. Let’s compare image and video quality of three very good smartphones: Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X and iPhone 5.

Battle of the Smartphones: Round 1 – Picture Quality

If the overall picture quality is considered as the benchmark, HTC One X is the best option because it tends to over-sharpen the image thereby minimizing degradation. Yet, iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 cannot be called poor in this aspect.

If you want a phone that reproduces colors perfectly, then you ought to choose iPhone 5 because it does justice to snaps with natural and warm colors. The One X seems to overdo this aspect by bringing a yellowish hue into the images.

Exposure wise, the One X lags behind the other two because it tends towards under exposure. iPhone 5 scores the highest as far as dynamic range is concerned.

Smartphones will get used indoors very often. Hence, this is an important parameter. iPhone 5 scores high again and produces very good images irrespective of the quality of lighting. SGS3’s flash does a good job of taking good snaps even in poor lighting but does not match iPhone’s performance.

Round 2 – Video Quality

What about video? It is Apple all the way. Want HD videos with crisp details, perfectly natural colors and super smooth recording all the way? Choose iPhone 5. The iPhone camera seems to get great quality, well encoded video. The S3 fails in suppressing wind noise. One X just does not make the cut here. Details are vague and the capture rate is plain slow.

And the Winner is…

When you analyze the quality of images and video, there is no doubt that iPhone 5 comes out on top in a close race. It is easy to use and pretty fast too. Other two options are impressive and definitely score over similar products in the market. However, it cannot be denied that they fall behind when one compares with iPhone 5.